Jambands.com: Bob Weir, John Prine, Lucinda Williams and More Play LA Benefit
On Friday night at the Ace Theater in Los Angeles, an all-star group of musicians came together for the Across the Great Divide benefit concert, which supported both the Americana Music Association and the Blues Music Foundation. Among the evening’s performers were Bob Weir, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, Lee Ann Womack, Doyle Bramhall II, Larkin Poe, Tash Neal of The London Souls and more, plus special guest guitarist Slash.
The benefit concert featured a number of collaborations, including Slash sitting in with Neal and Joe Louis Walker during their respective performances and Bramhall joining Lucinda Williams for two of her songs.
Weir’s four-song set included Grateful Dead classics “Cassidy,” “Ripple” and “Truckin’,” plus a cover of Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” Weir fronted the house band, which was led by guitarist and musical director Jimmy Vivino, along with Larkin Poe. Bramhall also joined Weir for his entire set, with the exception of “Ripple”. After John Prine’s headlining segment, the night’s collected musicians came together on the stage for a singalong finale of The Band’s “The Weight.” The Band sing-along marked the first time Weir and Slash had shared the stage.
Watch video of Weir’s set and the all-star finale tune below.